After the successful shot…The work begins!

Now I realize how far away I am and how fortunate to get not only a shot at this elk, but a clean kill. I reload my rifle (I am hunting alone, although several others are a few miles away and there are bear and mountain lions in the woods ), put the safety on and hike up to my reward. She is big…and really far from any trail or foreseeable route out of the forest. Oh well, might as well start field dressing anyway. I hang my orange coat on a high branch to signal where I am and soon Erik appears. He has heard me shoot and hiked over the ridge, locating my exact whereabouts by spotting my orange coat. When I get to the ridge, I have a weak cell, but enough to text Loren to join us too, preferably with the ATV. Continue reading →

Third Day’s a Charm

 Hunting has been especially rewarding this year, sort of a tipping point in both my hunting aptitude and attitude. I have enjoyed it more than ever and have been slightly less goal oriented. Each morning, beginning the first day of my eight-day elk and deer season, I leave the house happy to be able to go for “an armed hike.” If I see an animal, if I can get a good shot and an elk or deer, it would make my day. If I do not get a shot, or even see animals, I will not be discouraged and think they have all left my area; I will simply enjoy the woods! Continue reading →